Prospective Evaluation of the Correlation of Lung Ultrasonography Score and Blood Gas Parameters in Neonates With Respiratory Distress.

Introduction Lung ultrasonography (LUS) has become frequently used in neonatal intensive care units (NICU) because it is diagnostic, useful, harmless, radiation-free, and practical for bedside use due to its portability. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the association between lung ultrasound (LUS) scores and diagnoses of neonates hospitalized for respiratory distress and determine the value of the combined use of laboratory and imaging methods in patient evaluation by looking at the correlation between blood gas parameters and LUS score. Materials and methods Between March and July 2022, a total of 55 patients who were born term or premature and admitted due to respiratory distress in the NICU of Malatya Training and Research Hospital were included in the study. In this observational, prospective study, demographic information such as birth weights, gestational weeks, mode of delivery, Apgar scores, blood gas sample results, LUS results and scores, ventilation types, and discharge time were recorded during hospitalization in our unit. According to the newborns' clinical, laboratory, and radiologic evaluations, the diagnoses of respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN), or congenital pneumonia were made, and the relationship between the diagnoses and LUS scores was evaluated. The pH value and PCO2 value in the venous blood gas obtained on the day of LUS were recorded. Correlation analysis was performed between the LUS score and pH value, LUS score and PCO2 value. Results Twenty-seven newborns were diagnosed with TTN, 18 with RDS, and 10 with congenital pneumonia. There was a statistical difference between LUS scores and diagnoses (p<0.001). According to Spearman correlation analysis, a significant negative moderate correlation was found between LUS scores and venous blood gas pH value (p<0.001, r:-0.49). There was also a significant positive low, moderate correlation with venous blood gas PCO2 value (p<0.001, r:0.36). Conclusion This study demonstrates that LUS scoring has a role in determining the severity of disease and making diagnoses in patients hospitalized for respiratory distress. When LUS is widely used, it will be informative about the severity and prognosis of the disease, together with laboratory evaluation.

Neonatal Resuscitation Practices in Turkey: A Survey of the Turkish Neonatal Society and the Union of European Neonatal and Perinatal Societies.

OBJECTIVE: Optimal care in the delivery room is important to decrease neonatal morbidity and mortality. We aimed to evaluate neonatal resuscitation practices in Turkish centers. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional survey consisted of a 91-item questionnaire focused on delivery room practices in neonatal resuscitation and was sent to 50 Turkish centers. Hospitals with <2500 and those with ≥2500 births/year were compared. RESULTS: In 2018, approximately 240 000 births occurred at participating hospitals with a median of 2630 births/year. Participating hospitals were able to provide nasal continuous-positiveairway-pressure/high-flow nasal cannula, mechanical ventilation, high-frequency oscillatory ventilation, inhaled nitric oxide, and therapeutic hypothermia similarly. Antenatal counseling was routinely performed on parents at 56% of all centers. A resuscitation team was present at 72% of deliveries. Umbilical cord management for both term and preterm infants was similar between centers. The rate of delayed cord clamping was approximately 60% in term and late preterm infants. Thermal management for preterm infants (<32 weeks) was similar. Hospitals had appropriate equipment with similar rates of interventions and management, except conti nuous-positive-airway-pressure and positive-end-expiratory-pressure levels (cmH2O) used in preterm infants (P = .021, and P = .032). Ethical and educational aspects were also similar. CONCLUSIONS: This survey provided information on neonatal resuscitation practices in a sample of hospitals from all regions of Turkey and allowed us to see weaknesses in some fields. Although adherence to the guidelines was high among centers, further implementations are required in the areas of antenatal counseling, cord management, and circulation assessment in the delivery room.

Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnant Women With Confirmed Coronavirus Disease 2019: One-Year Experience of a Tertiary Care Center.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic became an important public health problem affecting all age groups. The aim of this study was to evaluate clinical and laboratory findings of newborns born to mothers with COVID-19. Thirty pregnant women with COVID-19 were admitted to Turgut Ozal University Hospital for delivery. Fourteen pregnant women had at least one symptom associated with COVID-19. Positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) results were seen in only 3 (9.7%) of 31 newborns. A statistically significant difference was observed between PCR-positive and PCR-negative newborns in terms of any adverse pregnancy outcomes. Neonatal lymphocyte count and partial arterial oxygen pressure were significantly lower in the PCR-positive group. Results were also compared according to the interval from the maternal diagnosis time to delivery. Hemoglobin and hematocrit levels in newborns born to mothers diagnosed more than 7 days before delivery were significantly lower. Neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 had mild clinical symptoms and favorable outcomes.

Neonatal Outcomes of Pregnancy with Immune Thrombocytopenia.

Neonates born to mothers with immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) have an increased risk for neonatal thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic complications. The aim of this study was to determine the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnancies with ITP and also to identify risk factors that predicts neonatal thrombocytopenia. We performed a retrospective analysis of 40 pregnancies with ITP and their 40 neonates. Among the 40 neonates, thrombocytopenia (platelet count of less than 150 × 109/L) was detected in 15 neonates (37.5 %) whom 8 of them had severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count of less than 50 × 109/L). Ten of the 15 neonates with thrombocytopenia required treatment to increase the platelet counts. There was statistically significant association between neonatal thrombocytopenia and maternal splenectomy history and maternal duration of thrombocytopenia. There was no statistically significant correlation between maternal platelet count and neonatal platelet count. Clinicians should pay special attention in these neonates because of risk for development of neonatal thrombocytopenia. Maternal and neonatal outcomes in patients with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura is generally good.